Switching mechanism for a gramophone



Nov. 26, 1957 J. VAN DER HEEM 2,814,374

SWITCHING MECHANISM FOR A GRAMOPHONE Filed May 20, 1954 IN VEN TOR.

t, my 8014, m 1/ WJ/W HTTORNE Y 23 M374 Patented Nov. 26, 1957 SWITCHING MECHANISM FOR A GRAMOPHONE Jan van der Heem, Voorburg, Netherlands Application May 20, 1954, Serial No. 431,183

Claims priority, application Netherlands August 3, 1953 9 Claims. (Cl. 192-124) The invention relates to a switching mechanism for a phonograph consisting of a switch actuated by the phonograph pick-up by means of a lever system for switching the driving motor on and oif.

Switching devices for phonographs are known in which the drive is automatically switched off after a record has been played.

A disadvantage of these switching devices is that for proper operation of this device at the right moment only one definite kind of record can be used, the running-out groove being spaced a definite distance from the shaft of the turntable.

Another drawback is that the driving shaft after the drive has been switched off, still remains in contact with the turntable and the motor shaft. The result of this is that the disc which generally has a rubber edge will show permanent impressions by the constant pressure of driving shaft and turntable at one and the same point.

The purpose of the invention is to remove these disadvantages by providing a switching device which switches oif the driving motor and releases the driving shaft of the turntable and the motor shaft simultaneously after a record has been played, and whose operation is independent of the distance between the running-out groove and the shaft of the turntable.

According to the invention this aim is attained with a mechanism consisting of two switching levers of which one actuates the switch for switching the driving motor on and off and the other can release the driving disc of the turntable and the driving shaft, which levers are pivotally connected with an abutting lever which with a played record is in engagement with the shaft of the turntable, during which engagement the switching levers come into action.

The operation of the mechanism is independent of the position of the running-out groove, because the abutting lever cooperates with a finger-shaped member which is flexibly connected with the pick-up.

Preferably the finger-shaped member consists of two parts of which one is rigidly connected with the pick-up whilst the other one is frictionally pivotally connected with the former. A practical embodiment is obtained in that the abutting lever is provided at its free end with an abutment which with a ready played record engages behind a cam on the shaft of the turntable and in that the switching levers are arranged extensible and/ or pivotally on the base plate.

It is possible to again switch ofl the drive in a simple manner, since the lever actuating the switch is provided at its free end with a stop against which the finger-shaped member can abut, so that with an outward movement of the pick-up the switch can be shifted.

Furthermore a practical embodiment of the mechanism for releasing the driving disc is obtained .in that the switch lever bears with its free end against a member connected with the driving disc, which member when. the switch mechanism. comes into operation, is moved away from the turntable and the driving shaft together with the driving disc.

The invention will be elucidated by an embodiment shown in the drawing.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a switching mechanism just beneath the plane of the turntable shown with the turntable removed;

Fig. 2 is a section along the line II-II of Fig. 1, the switching mechanism being shown in side view with parts of the driving mechanism omitted.

The switching mechanism consists of the switch levers 1 and 2, each at their end being pivotally connected with the stop lever 3.

The lever 1 is provided with a pin 4 with which the lever is guided in a slot 5 in the bed plate.

The lever 2 is also guided in a slot 7 by means of a pin 6, which at the same time forms the pivotal connection with the switch element 8 of the switch.

The finger-shaped member 9 which cooperates with the stop lever 3 consists of two parts 10 and 11, which are mutually frictionally pivotally connected by means of a spring 12, whilst the part 11 is fixedly connected to the pick-up.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: When playing a record the pick-up moves along an arc of a circle with the pivot 13 as the center and in the direction of the shaft 14 of the turntable, the finger-shaped member 9 being moved therewith.

When the phonograph needle has come in the neighborhood of the shaft 14 of the turntable, the free end 15 of the finger-shaped member comes into contact with a stop 16 on the stop lever 3 (position in dash-lines).

During each succeeding revolution of the turntable the stop lever is now moved by the width of a groove towards the shaft of the turntable, there being a contact between the roller 17 and the cam 18 during each revolution. Aslong as the record is not completely played the stop lever 3 is urged back by the cam 18 each time by the width of a groove and via the stop lever 3 also the part 10 of the finger-shaped member 9 is urged back.

However as soon as the phonograph needle comes into the running-out groove, the needle and consequently the end 15 of the finger-shaped member is shifted by a larger distance due to the larger pitch of the running-out groove. Now the stop lever 3 is not urged back any more, but with the roller 17 it engages behind the cam 18 (shown in full lines), after which the stop lever 3 is taken along in the direction of the movement of the turntable.

During this movement the switch lever 1 is brought to the position shown in dot-dash lines and the free end 19 by means of a roller 20 releases the stop disc 21 from the turntable and the driving shaft 23 against the action of the spring 22. At the same time the switch lever 2 is pulled to the left, thereby shifting the switching element 8 and the motoris switched off.

In the meantime the stop lever 3 under the action of a stop pin 24 has come into the position shown with dash-dotted lines, in which position the roller 17 is not any more in engagement with the cam 18. In this position the mechanism remains at a stand-still.

If it is desired. to again switch on the phonograph, the pickup is turned back so far until the'finger-shaped member abuts against the stop 25 on the switch lever 2, after which owing to a further turning back of the pick-up the switch lever is urged to the right and the switching element 8 is shifted, whilst at the same time the switch lever 1 returns to the posit-ion shown in solid lines and the driving disc 21 is again pulled against the turntable and the driving shaft 23.

When the pick-up is moved back, the finger-shaped member 9 is taken along. The part 10 of the finger-shaped member abuts against a stop 26 in order to adjust the initial angular relationship between this part 10 with respect to the part 11. This adjustment is necessary since the action of the stop lever has to start between the largest diameter of the running-out groove and the begin-groove of the smallest records.

I claim:

1. In a phonograph having a pick-up means, a turntable and driving means for driving said turntable, in combination, coupling means for coupling said driving means to said turntable for rotating the same, said coupling means being movable between coupling and decoupling positions; means for moving said coupling means from coupling into decoupling position, said moving means including a cam rotatable with said turntable and a stop lever adapted to be moved into operating engagement with said cam, and actuating means operated by said pickup means for actuating said moving means to move said coupling means into decoupling position when said pick-up means reaches its end position after playing of a record, said actuating means including a motion transmitting member yieldingly coupled to said pick-up means to move said step lever into operating engagement with said cam at said end position while movement imparted by said cam to said stop lever is prevented from being transmitted by said motion transmitting member to said pick-up means.

2. In a phonograph having a pick-up means, a turntable and driving means for driving said turntable, in combination, coupling means for coupling said driving means to said turntable for rotating the same, said coupling means being movable between coupling and decoupling positions; a switch movable between circuitclosing position wherein said driving means is energized and circuit-opening position wherein said driving means is de-energized; means for moving said coupling means from coupling into decoupling position and for moving said switch from circuit-closing position into circuitopening position, said moving means including a cam rotatable with said turntable and a stop lever adapted to be moved into operating engagement with said cam; and actuating means operated by said pick-up means for actuating said moving means to move said coupling means into decoupling position when said pick-up means reaches its end position after playing of a record, said actuating means including a motion transmitting member yieldingly coupled to said pick-up means to move said stop lever mto operating engagement with said cam at said end position while movement imparted by said cam to said stop lever is prevented from being transmitted by said motion transmitting member to said pick-up means.

3. In a phonograph having a pick-up means, a turntable and driving means for driving said turntable, in combination, coupling means for coupling said driving means to said turntable for rotating the same, said coupling means being movable between coupling and decoupling positions; a switch movable between circuit-closing posi tion wherein said driving means is energized and circuitopening position wherein said driving means is de-energized; means for moving said coupling means from coupling into decoupling position and for simultaneously moving said switch from circuit-closing position into circuit-opening position, said moving means including a cam rotatable with said turntable and a stop lever adapted to be moved into operating engagement with said cam; and actuating means operated by said pick-up means for actuating said moving means to move said coupling means into decoupling position when said pick-up means reaches its end position after playing of a record, said actuating means including a motion transmitting member yieldingly coupled to said pick-up means to move said stop lever into operating engagement with said cam at said end position while movement imparted by said cam to said stop lever is prevented from being transmitted 4 by said motion transmitting member to said pick-up means.

4. In a phonograph having a pick-up means, a turn table and driving means for driving said turntable, in combination, coupling means for coupling said driving means to said turntable for rotating the same, said coupling means having a resilient portion and being movable between coupling and decoupling wherein said resilient portion of said coupling means is out of contact with said driving means and said turntable; means for moving said coupling means from coupling into decoupling posi tion, said moving means including a cam rotatable with said turntable and a stop lever adapted to be moved into operating engagement with said cam; and actuating means operated by said pick-up means for actuating said moving means to move said coupling means into decoupling position when said pick-up means reaches its end position after playing of a record, said actuating means including a motion transmitting member yieldingly coupled to said pick-up means to move said stop lever into operating engagement with said cam at said end position while movement imparted by said cam to said stop lever is prevented from being transmitted by said motion transmitting member to said pick-up means.

5. In a phonograph having a pick-up means, a turntable and driving means for driving said turntable, in combination, coupling means for coupling said driving means to said turntable for rotating the same, said coupling means being movable between coupling and decoupling positions; means for moving said coupling means from coupling into decoupling position; a rotatable center post adapted to mount said turntable and be rotatable therewith; a cam mounted on said center post and rotatable therewith; a stop lever pivotally mounted on said moving means and being adapted to engage said cam; and actuating means operated by said pick-up means and contacting said stop lever at a preselected position of said pick-up means before said pick-up means reaches its end position after playing of a record, said stop lever being thereby moved toward said center post into cam engaging position at said preselected position and being repeatedly moved away from said center post by said cam until said pick-up means reaches its end position after playing of a record, said cam thereupon operating said stop lever to actuate said moving means and move said coupling means from coupling to decoupling position after said pick-up means reaches said end position.

6. In a phonograph having a pick-up means, a turntable and driving means for driving said turntable, in combination, coupling means for coupling said driving means to said turntable for rotating the same, said coupling means being movable between coupling and decoupling positions; a switch movable between circuitclosing position wherein said driving means is energized and circuit-opening position wherein said driving means is de-energized; means for moving said coupling means from coupling into decoupling position and for moving said switch from circuit-closing position into circuit-opening position; a rotatable center post adapted to mount said turntable and be rotatable therewith; a cam mounted on said center post and rotatable therewith; a stop lever pivotally mounted on said moving means and being adapted to engage said cam; and actuating means operated by said pick-up means and contacting said stop lever at a preselected position of said pick-up means before said pick-up means reaches its end position after playing of a record, said stop lever being thereby moved towards said center post into cam engaging position at said pre' selected position and being repeatedly moved away from said center post by said cam until said pick-up means reaches its end position after playing of a record, said cam thereupon operating said stop lever to actuate said moving means and move said coupling means from coupling to decoupling position after said pick-up means reaches said end position; said actuating means including a motion transmitting member yieldingly coupled to said pick-up means to move said stop lever into opera-ting engagement with said cam at said preselected position while movement imparted by said cam to said stop lever is prevented from being transmitted by said motion transmitting member to said pick-up means.

7. In a phonograph having a pick-up means, a turntable and driving means for driving said turntable, in combination, coupling means for coupling said driving means to said turntable for rotating the same, said cou-- pling means being movable into and out of engagement with said driving means and being normally urged into engagement with said driving means; a rotatable center post adapted to mount said turntable and be rotatable therewith; a cam mounted on said center post and rotatable therewith; a stop lever movably mounted on said phonograph and having one end adapted to engage said cam; actuating means pivotally mounted on said stop lever and including means adapted to engage said coupling means and move said coupling means out of engagemen-t with said driving means; and an actuating member yieldingly coupled to said pick-up means and movable therewith having at least a free end portion adapted to engage said stop lever and move the latter into engagement with said cam at a preselected posit-ion of said pick-up means before said pick-up means reaches its end position after playing of a record, said stop lever being thereby moved towards said center post into cam engaging position at said preselected position and being repeatedly moved away from said center post by said cam until said pick-up means reaches its end position, said cam thereupon operating said stop lever to actuate said moving means and move said coupling means from coupling to decoupling position after said pick-up means reaches said end position while movement imparted by said cam to said stop lever is prevented from being transmit-ted by said yieldingly coupled actuating member to said pick-up means.

8. In a phonograph arrangement having a pick-up means, a turntable, and driving means for driving said turntable about its center post wherein the driving means is energized and deenergized depending on the movement of said pick-up means and wherein said driving means is simultaneously coupled to said turntable to play a record and released from said turntable after the record has been played, the improvement comprising, in combination, switching means connected in circuit with said driving means and movable between circuit-opening position wherein said driving means is deenergized and circuitclosing position wherein said driving means is energized; a coupling member movably mounted on said phonograph for coupling and releasing said driving means to and from said turntable respectively; a switching member pivotally mounted on said coupling member and engaging said switching means for moving the same between a circuit-opening and circuit-closing position; a stop lever pivotally mounted on said actuating member and movable towards and away from said center post; a cam mounted on said turntable at said center post thereof rotatable therewith and adapted to engage said stop lever when the same is moved toward said center post into initial cam engaging position; and an actuating member frictionally connected to said pick-up means at one of its ends and having a free end portion adapted to engage said stop lever at a preselected position before said pickup means reaches the run-out groove of the record being played, said actuating member thereby repeatedly moving said stop lever towards said center post into initial cam engaging position as said pick-up means moves along the grooves of said record so that said stop lever is repeatedly moved away from said center post by said cam during normal movement of said pick-up means in the grooves of said record, whereby when said pick-up means reaches the run-out groove of the record being played, said actuating member moves said stop lever towards said center post beyond said initial cam engaging position into cam operating position to move said stop lever and thereby operate said coupling and switching members to simultaneously release said driving means from said turntable and deenergize said driving means While movement imparted by said cam to said stop lever is prevented from being transmitted by said actuating member to said pickup means.

9. In a phonograph arrangement having a pick-up means, a turntable, and driving means for driving said turntable about its center post wherein the driving means is energized and deenergized depending on the move-.

ment of said pick-up means and wherein said driving means is simultaneously coupled to said turntable to play a record and released from said turntable after the record has been played, the improvement comprising, in combination, switching means connected in circuit with said driving means and movable between circuit-opening position wherein said driving means is deenergized and circuit closing position wherein said driving means is energized; a coupling member movably mounted on said phonograph for coupling and releasing said driving means to and from said turntable respectively; a switching member pivotally mounted on said coupling member and engaging said switching means for moving the same between a circuit-opening and circuit-closing position; a stop lever pivotally mounted on said actuating member and movable towards and away from said center post; a cam mounted on said turntable at said center post thereof rotatable therewith and adapted to engage said stop lever when the same is moved toward said center post into initial cam engaging position; an actuating member frict-ionally connected to said pick-up means at one of its ends and having a free end portion adapted to engage said stop lever at a preselected position before said pick-up means reaches the run-out groove of the record being played, said actuating member thereby repeatedly moving said stop lever towards said center post into initial cam engaging position as said pick-up means moves along the grooves of said record so that said stop lever is repeatedly moved away from said center post by said cam during normal movement of said pick-up means in the grooves of said record, whereby when said pick-up means reaches the run-out groove of the record being played, said actuating member moves said stop lever towards said center post beyond said initial cam engaging position into cam operating position to move said stop lever and thereby operate said coupling and switching members to simultaneously release said driving means from said turntable and deenergize said driving means while movement imparted by said cam to said stop lever is prevented from being transmitted by said actuating member to said pick-up means; and a projecting member mounted on said switching member for engaging said actuating member when said pick-up means is moved from the center post position of said record toward the peripheral portion thereof to move said switching member and operate said switching means into circuit-closing position thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,654,457 Ammlung et al. Oct. 6, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 432,976 Italy Apr. 1, 1948 

